Percy Greenbank

Percy Greenbank (24 January 1878 – 9 December 1968) was an English lyricist, best known for his contribution of lyrics to a number of successful Edwardian musical comedies in the early years of the 20th century. His older brother, lyricist Harry Greenbank, had a brilliant career in the 1890s that was cut short by his death at the age of 33. Percy picked up where his brother had left off, writing lyrics for some of the most popular musicals from 1900 through World War I and even afterwards.

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Greenbank was born in London, son of Richard and Mary Greenbank.[1] He was Harry Greenbank's younger brother. Percy studied law, but instead decided to become a journalist, contributing to such journals as Punch, The Sketch and The Tatler, and to write for the theatre.[1]

After Edwardes' death in 1915, Greenbank continued for a further decade to supply lyrics and occasionally libretti to the musical stage, including such shows as Houp La! (1916) and the hit musical The Boy (1917), only rarely venturing into the world of revue (Half Past Eight and Vanity Fair).[1] His last major work for the West End was the adaptation from the German of what was to become the book to the Jean Gilbert and Vernon Duke musical Yvonne. He subsequently did occasional work as a play doctor (El Dorado) or an adapter through the 1920s. He modernized San Toy with Percy Barrow for its 1931 revival, but slowed down into a long retirement.[2]

Greenbank died in Rickmansworth, north west of London, at the age of 90, and as a result, the Edwardian musical comedies to which he contributed remain in copyright in the UK well into the 21st century.